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See Also
See Again
© Getty Images
0 / 36 Fotos
Bowie was his stage name
- He was born David Robert Jones and went by the name Davy Jones at the beginning of his career. However, he had to change his stage name to avoid confusion with another Davy Jones in the music industry; a member of the Monkees.
© Getty Images
1 / 36 Fotos
What do these two stars have in common?
- Both the British and American star were born on January 8. Regardless of what you think of astrology, it's undeniable that they were both strong Capricorn personalities!
© Getty Images
2 / 36 Fotos
Hair freedom
- At the age of 17, Bowie fought for the right to wear his hair long. It may seem bizarre, but in 1964 the controversy was so real that he and his friends founded the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired Men.
© Getty Images
3 / 36 Fotos
Pet peeve
- In a BBC interview, Bowie explained how much it annoyed him and his friends when people called them "darling."
© Getty Images
4 / 36 Fotos
Different-color eyes
- The singer's heterochromatic eyes were not a natural feature. At the age of 15, his right pupil became permanently dilated after a fight with his school friend George Underwood over a girl. Interestingly, Underwood would later become one of Bowie's collaborators. Bowie approached his artistic friend to design album artwork for him, and Underwood agreed. He designed the graphics for 'Hunky Dory' (1971) and 'Ziggy Stardust' (1972).
© Getty Images
5 / 36 Fotos
Famous friends
- Peter Frampton and Bowie were childhood friends. Frampton's father was a teacher at their school and they often got together to play.
© Getty Images
6 / 36 Fotos
Man on the moon
- The song 'Space Oddity' (1969) was the first hit Bowie released in the UK. The song was used in the BBC's coverage of the moon landings.
© Getty Images
7 / 36 Fotos
Spaceman
- Major Tom, a character created by Bowie who first appears in 'Space Oddity,' is also mentioned in 'Ashes to Ashes' (1980), 'Hallo Spaceboy' (1996), 'New Killer Star' (2003), and 'Blackstar' (2016).
© Reuters
8 / 36 Fotos
'Space Oddity' in Italian
- Few people know or remember it, but the famous song 'Space Oddity' was recorded in Italian and given the name 'Ragazzo Solo, Ragazza Sola' (in English that's 'Lonely Boy, Lonely Girl').
© Getty Images
9 / 36 Fotos
Ziggy Stardust
- Bowie said in an interview with 'The Independent' that his alter ego (Ziggy) was based on a failed American musician called Vince Taylor, who later went mad.
© Getty Images
10 / 36 Fotos
The Berlin Trilogy
- The Berlin Trilogy refers to the albums 'Low,' 'Heroes,' and 'Lodger,' which were produced by Brian Eno and recorded when Bowie was living in Berlin.
© Getty Images
11 / 36 Fotos
Homage
- In the song 'Trans Europe Express' (1977), the German electronic band Kraftwerk mentions Bowie: "Meet Iggy Pop and David Bowie - TRANS EUROPE EXPRESS!"
© Getty Images
12 / 36 Fotos
Bowie was a fan of...
- As far as modern artists go, Bowie loved Arcade Fire and TV on the Radio. During the recording of his final album 'Blackstar,' Bowie listened to a lot of Kendrick Lamar.
© Getty Images
13 / 36 Fotos
What goes around...
- Nile Rodgers, the founder of Chic, wasn't hired as lead guitarist for Bowie's album 'Young Americans' (1975). Funny enough, Rodgers later produced and played on 'Let's Dance' (1983), Bowie's biggest hit.
© Getty Images
14 / 36 Fotos
Fashion icon
- Bowie used fashion extensively to express himself and convey the identity of his characters, making him one of the most iconic artists in the world.
© Reuters
15 / 36 Fotos
Sharply dressed
- Over time - and being the chameleon that he is - he moved from the skinny style to the androgynous style of glam rock, to the colorful suits of new wave, and to the slightly more sober, sophisticated style of his later years.
© Getty Images
16 / 36 Fotos
Not a fan?
- Before the start of his 1990 tour, Bowie suggested that fans vote by phone for the song they'd most like to hear. 'The Laughing Gnome' was the most requested song, but he didn't play it.
© Getty Images
17 / 36 Fotos
A man of many talents
- Bowie loved drawing and in his spare time he was also a painter, a writer, and even a sculptor. His favorite artists were Tintoretto, John Bellany, Erich Heckel, Picasso, and Michael Ray Charles.
© Getty Images
18 / 36 Fotos
Multi-instrumentalist
- On the album 'Diamond Dogs' he played almost all the instruments, including the classic riff of 'Rebel Rebel.' He started playing the saxophone at the age of 12.
© Reuters
19 / 36 Fotos
Sexual orientation
- Angie Bowie, his first wife, claimed that Bowie had an affair with Mick Jagger. But both he and his ex-girlfriend Ava Cherry have denied these allegations.
© Getty Images
20 / 36 Fotos
He said 'No' to the Queen
- Oh yes he did! Bowie declined a CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) from Queen Elizabeth II.
© Getty Images
21 / 36 Fotos
Rebel rebel
- And he did it again. He turned down the title "Sir" twice, in 2000 and 2003. Bowie told The Sun newspaper that he never intended to accept the award and that he didn't know why it should be given to him as he hadn't worked for it.
© Getty Images
22 / 36 Fotos
Failed group
- In 1970, he founded a band called The Hype, in which all members dressed up as parody superheroes.
© Getty Images
23 / 36 Fotos
He finally says yes to the 'Queen'
- 'Under Pressure,' one of Queen's biggest hits, was written by Bowie. The song was made in collaboration with the artist, who contributed with lyrics and co-lead vocals.
© Getty Images
24 / 36 Fotos
Mime
- In yet another artistic experiment, Bowie founded his own mime group called Feathers in 1969.
© Getty Images
25 / 36 Fotos
Knowing John Lennon
- Bowie and the former Beatle worked together on the single 'Fame' from the album 'Young Americans.' It reached number one in the charts in September 1975. On the same album, Bowie also covered 'Across the Universe' by the Beatles.
© NL Beeld
26 / 36 Fotos
Inspiration
- Bowie's half-brother, who suffered from schizophrenia, committed suicide in 1985. This had a great impact on Bowie's music and inspired the creation of songs such as 'Aladdin Sane,' 'All the Madmen,' 'The Bewlay Brothers' and 'Jump They Say.'
© Getty Images
27 / 36 Fotos
Late recognition
- In 1997, the renowned rock star was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. During that time, he also released his 'Earthling' album.
© Reuters
28 / 36 Fotos
Covers
- Nirvana covered 'The Man Who Sold the World,' a song originally released in 1970. The singer Lulu had also previously performed her own version of the song.
© Reuters
29 / 36 Fotos
Great love
- Bowie had several relationships, with men and women. But the love of his life was the Somali model Iman. They tied the knot in 1992 and they have a daughter named Alexandria Zahra Jones.
© Reuters
30 / 36 Fotos
'Let's Dance'
- Let's Dance" (1983) not only has a catchy, upbeat dance rhythm, but is also a message against racism and oppression.
© Getty Images
31 / 36 Fotos
Honored
- Bowie was granted an honorary doctorate from the Berklee College of Music in 1999.
© Reuters
32 / 36 Fotos
Cinema
- In the movie 'Basquiat' (1996), Bowie portrayed the artist Andy Warhol.
© Getty Images
33 / 36 Fotos
Notable roles
- Director Nicolas Roeg cast Bowie in his first leading role, as an alien in 'The Man Who Fell to Earth' (1976). He also played the lead role in 'Labyrinth' (pictured) in 1986 and Pontius Pilate in 'The Last Temptation of Christ' (1988), directed by Martin Scorsese.
© NL Beeld
34 / 36 Fotos
Rewind
- 'Move On,' the song from the album 'Lodger' (1979), uses the music from 'All the Young Dudes' played backward. Sources: (Allmusic) (Rolling Stone) (The Guardian) (The Independant)
See also: The cryptic clues in Taylor Swift's music
© Getty Images
35 / 36 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 36 Fotos
Bowie was his stage name
- He was born David Robert Jones and went by the name Davy Jones at the beginning of his career. However, he had to change his stage name to avoid confusion with another Davy Jones in the music industry; a member of the Monkees.
© Getty Images
1 / 36 Fotos
What do these two stars have in common?
- Both the British and American star were born on January 8. Regardless of what you think of astrology, it's undeniable that they were both strong Capricorn personalities!
© Getty Images
2 / 36 Fotos
Hair freedom
- At the age of 17, Bowie fought for the right to wear his hair long. It may seem bizarre, but in 1964 the controversy was so real that he and his friends founded the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired Men.
© Getty Images
3 / 36 Fotos
Pet peeve
- In a BBC interview, Bowie explained how much it annoyed him and his friends when people called them "darling."
© Getty Images
4 / 36 Fotos
Different-color eyes
- The singer's heterochromatic eyes were not a natural feature. At the age of 15, his right pupil became permanently dilated after a fight with his school friend George Underwood over a girl. Interestingly, Underwood would later become one of Bowie's collaborators. Bowie approached his artistic friend to design album artwork for him, and Underwood agreed. He designed the graphics for 'Hunky Dory' (1971) and 'Ziggy Stardust' (1972).
© Getty Images
5 / 36 Fotos
Famous friends
- Peter Frampton and Bowie were childhood friends. Frampton's father was a teacher at their school and they often got together to play.
© Getty Images
6 / 36 Fotos
Man on the moon
- The song 'Space Oddity' (1969) was the first hit Bowie released in the UK. The song was used in the BBC's coverage of the moon landings.
© Getty Images
7 / 36 Fotos
Spaceman
- Major Tom, a character created by Bowie who first appears in 'Space Oddity,' is also mentioned in 'Ashes to Ashes' (1980), 'Hallo Spaceboy' (1996), 'New Killer Star' (2003), and 'Blackstar' (2016).
© Reuters
8 / 36 Fotos
'Space Oddity' in Italian
- Few people know or remember it, but the famous song 'Space Oddity' was recorded in Italian and given the name 'Ragazzo Solo, Ragazza Sola' (in English that's 'Lonely Boy, Lonely Girl').
© Getty Images
9 / 36 Fotos
Ziggy Stardust
- Bowie said in an interview with 'The Independent' that his alter ego (Ziggy) was based on a failed American musician called Vince Taylor, who later went mad.
© Getty Images
10 / 36 Fotos
The Berlin Trilogy
- The Berlin Trilogy refers to the albums 'Low,' 'Heroes,' and 'Lodger,' which were produced by Brian Eno and recorded when Bowie was living in Berlin.
© Getty Images
11 / 36 Fotos
Homage
- In the song 'Trans Europe Express' (1977), the German electronic band Kraftwerk mentions Bowie: "Meet Iggy Pop and David Bowie - TRANS EUROPE EXPRESS!"
© Getty Images
12 / 36 Fotos
Bowie was a fan of...
- As far as modern artists go, Bowie loved Arcade Fire and TV on the Radio. During the recording of his final album 'Blackstar,' Bowie listened to a lot of Kendrick Lamar.
© Getty Images
13 / 36 Fotos
What goes around...
- Nile Rodgers, the founder of Chic, wasn't hired as lead guitarist for Bowie's album 'Young Americans' (1975). Funny enough, Rodgers later produced and played on 'Let's Dance' (1983), Bowie's biggest hit.
© Getty Images
14 / 36 Fotos
Fashion icon
- Bowie used fashion extensively to express himself and convey the identity of his characters, making him one of the most iconic artists in the world.
© Reuters
15 / 36 Fotos
Sharply dressed
- Over time - and being the chameleon that he is - he moved from the skinny style to the androgynous style of glam rock, to the colorful suits of new wave, and to the slightly more sober, sophisticated style of his later years.
© Getty Images
16 / 36 Fotos
Not a fan?
- Before the start of his 1990 tour, Bowie suggested that fans vote by phone for the song they'd most like to hear. 'The Laughing Gnome' was the most requested song, but he didn't play it.
© Getty Images
17 / 36 Fotos
A man of many talents
- Bowie loved drawing and in his spare time he was also a painter, a writer, and even a sculptor. His favorite artists were Tintoretto, John Bellany, Erich Heckel, Picasso, and Michael Ray Charles.
© Getty Images
18 / 36 Fotos
Multi-instrumentalist
- On the album 'Diamond Dogs' he played almost all the instruments, including the classic riff of 'Rebel Rebel.' He started playing the saxophone at the age of 12.
© Reuters
19 / 36 Fotos
Sexual orientation
- Angie Bowie, his first wife, claimed that Bowie had an affair with Mick Jagger. But both he and his ex-girlfriend Ava Cherry have denied these allegations.
© Getty Images
20 / 36 Fotos
He said 'No' to the Queen
- Oh yes he did! Bowie declined a CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) from Queen Elizabeth II.
© Getty Images
21 / 36 Fotos
Rebel rebel
- And he did it again. He turned down the title "Sir" twice, in 2000 and 2003. Bowie told The Sun newspaper that he never intended to accept the award and that he didn't know why it should be given to him as he hadn't worked for it.
© Getty Images
22 / 36 Fotos
Failed group
- In 1970, he founded a band called The Hype, in which all members dressed up as parody superheroes.
© Getty Images
23 / 36 Fotos
He finally says yes to the 'Queen'
- 'Under Pressure,' one of Queen's biggest hits, was written by Bowie. The song was made in collaboration with the artist, who contributed with lyrics and co-lead vocals.
© Getty Images
24 / 36 Fotos
Mime
- In yet another artistic experiment, Bowie founded his own mime group called Feathers in 1969.
© Getty Images
25 / 36 Fotos
Knowing John Lennon
- Bowie and the former Beatle worked together on the single 'Fame' from the album 'Young Americans.' It reached number one in the charts in September 1975. On the same album, Bowie also covered 'Across the Universe' by the Beatles.
© NL Beeld
26 / 36 Fotos
Inspiration
- Bowie's half-brother, who suffered from schizophrenia, committed suicide in 1985. This had a great impact on Bowie's music and inspired the creation of songs such as 'Aladdin Sane,' 'All the Madmen,' 'The Bewlay Brothers' and 'Jump They Say.'
© Getty Images
27 / 36 Fotos
Late recognition
- In 1997, the renowned rock star was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. During that time, he also released his 'Earthling' album.
© Reuters
28 / 36 Fotos
Covers
- Nirvana covered 'The Man Who Sold the World,' a song originally released in 1970. The singer Lulu had also previously performed her own version of the song.
© Reuters
29 / 36 Fotos
Great love
- Bowie had several relationships, with men and women. But the love of his life was the Somali model Iman. They tied the knot in 1992 and they have a daughter named Alexandria Zahra Jones.
© Reuters
30 / 36 Fotos
'Let's Dance'
- Let's Dance" (1983) not only has a catchy, upbeat dance rhythm, but is also a message against racism and oppression.
© Getty Images
31 / 36 Fotos
Honored
- Bowie was granted an honorary doctorate from the Berklee College of Music in 1999.
© Reuters
32 / 36 Fotos
Cinema
- In the movie 'Basquiat' (1996), Bowie portrayed the artist Andy Warhol.
© Getty Images
33 / 36 Fotos
Notable roles
- Director Nicolas Roeg cast Bowie in his first leading role, as an alien in 'The Man Who Fell to Earth' (1976). He also played the lead role in 'Labyrinth' (pictured) in 1986 and Pontius Pilate in 'The Last Temptation of Christ' (1988), directed by Martin Scorsese.
© NL Beeld
34 / 36 Fotos
Rewind
- 'Move On,' the song from the album 'Lodger' (1979), uses the music from 'All the Young Dudes' played backward. Sources: (Allmusic) (Rolling Stone) (The Guardian) (The Independant)
See also: The cryptic clues in Taylor Swift's music
© Getty Images
35 / 36 Fotos
Stardust: The legacy of David Bowie
The unparalleled British star left us in 2016
© Getty Images
David Bowie, one of the brightest music legends of our times, sadly lost his battle with cancer on January 10, 2016. This tragic event occurred shortly after the release of his last album, 'Blackstar' (released on January 8, 2016, the same day as his birthday).
To honor this extraordinary visionary, we have compiled some interesting facts about his life and career as one of the greatest rock stars of all time. Curious? Click through to learn about his fascinating life.
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